Hey everyone I have a 160g and my sump pump is a askoll pj5000 witch puts out 1500 gph so I want more current. I know I could allways buy a powerhead but if I buy a new pump all get a faster cycle witch means cleaner water. My question is can put a 2200 gph pump on there with out changing anything else with the sump also is 2200 gph to much for a 160g?
sump pump advice
- Thread starter GrindeL89
- Start date
You can always put a valve on the output and adjust it if it is... You have to factor in head height as well... What's it rated at with like 4 feet of head?
Yes and No
For a 5500 lhr 1500gph pump to work on a 160 without restriction, your filter inlet plumbing should to be around 1.25-1.5" to allow flow into the filter not to be restrictive and 1-1.5 on the return. Sounds great all that turnover for keeping the water clear. In reality it's not so great for your bio filtration, and contact time with bio media can suffer as a result. meaning you may have to add a lot more bio media than is needed to achieve reliable water parameters. I have seen it it time and time again big power sucking pumps on small setups that have good mechanical filtration but once the water is tested, it shows the issues from lack of contact time with the media. I know you can slow the pump down via adjusting the plumbing etc, but your still using excessive power on a single pump thats not needed.
For your size tank I would use a pump with half the flow of your 1500gph pump unrestricted, which will still give you a more than sufficient turnover rate and better contact time with the bio media.